Evenepoel switches to training-only approach to the Tour

Remco Evenepoel, the 2024 podium finisher, will forgo all competitive racing between now and the Tour de France, his Soudal Quick-Step team confirmed this week. This marks a significant departure from his usual pre-Tour preparation, which typically included the Critérium du Dauphiné, formerly known as the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Instead, Evenepoel will focus exclusively on a training block, a decision that has raised eyebrows given his stated ambitions for July.

This strategic pivot comes as Evenepoel prepares for his much-anticipated Tour de France debut, following a Giro d'Italia victory and a Vuelta a España title. His past successes have often been built on a combination of high-level racing and targeted training camps. Skipping the Dauphiné, a traditional Tour warm-up, suggests a calculated risk, perhaps influenced by his recent Basque Country crash and a desire for an uninterrupted, controlled build-up. It's a bold move for a rider aiming for the top step against seasoned Grand Tour contenders.

Ultimately, Evenepoel’s decision is a high-stakes gamble. Whether it’s a stroke of genius or a miscalculation will only be revealed on the roads of France, but it certainly ensures he won't be over-raced.